“Why We Dumped PDP for ADC Ahead of 2027” — Ex-Lagos Chairman, Other Party Leaders

A wave of high-profile defections hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos on Saturday as former state chairman, retired Capt. Tunji Shelle, alongside several other chieftains, officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Shelle, a former PDP Board of Trustees member, Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu, ex-state chairman, Chief Muritala Ashorobi, PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos East), Tai Benedict, former youth leader, Chief Niyi Adams, and former South West secretary, Rahman Owokoniran, were among the prominent figures who crossed over at an affirmation ceremony held in Lagos.

They were formally received by ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and other party leaders.

Speaking on the reasons behind the mass exodus, Shelle accused the PDP of being riddled with “gross indiscipline and endless crises,” blaming the leadership for failing to rein in the destabilizing influence of certain national figures. He specifically pointed fingers at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alleging that Wike was undermining the PDP while openly working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Wike cannot hijack the party and the rest of us continue to look as if we are helpless. One man cannot claim to be PDP while serving the APC’s interest. The leadership has been compromised,” Shelle said.

According to him, the defection of PDP leaders into ADC marked a major blow to the former ruling party in Lagos. “PDP is now empty with all its leaders moving to ADC,” he declared.

Shelle described the ADC as a disciplined party with credible leaders, including Interim Chairman Sen. David Mark and Aregbesola, whom he said had the capacity to reposition Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. “There are no distractions in ADC. The party has all it takes to save the situation in Nigeria and give the people the country of their dreams,” he added, urging more Nigerians to join the movement.

Other defectors echoed similar sentiments. Owokoniran dismissed the PDP as a “party that has lost track,” while Benedict claimed more PDP leaders were preparing to join ADC. “We are emptying PDP members in Lagos State into ADC. Others are on the way; they want to take their last supper before coming,” Benedict quipped.

Adams, the former PDP youth leader, said more than 5,000 members had already defected across Lagos’ 20 local government areas. He argued that the PDP’s internal crisis was irreparable, even after the party’s upcoming national convention, and vowed that ADC members would work tirelessly to ensure victory in 2027.

With the defections, ADC leaders expressed confidence that the party is fast emerging as a credible alternative to the APC and the deeply divided PDP.